The Minnesota Timberwolves got plenty out of what was deemed a soft rebuild of a season in the aftermath of the Karl-Anthony Towns trade.
The primary piece of that deal, Julius Randle, was a revelation in the run to the Western Conference Finals, averaging 23.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 5.9 assists in the first two postseason series. He often took over as the Timberwolves’ lead scorer with the added attention Anthony Edwards had garnered from opposing defenses.
But against the Western Conference’s new juggernaut in the Oklahoma City Thunder, Randle struggled mightily, re-conjuring critiques of his performance in the playoffs with the New York Knicks. He averaged just 17.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3.6 turnovers where
Entering the final year of his contract, Randle is eligible for a lucrative four-year, $181.5 million extension if he declines his $30.9 million player-option this offseason — which is expected.
The 30-year-old All-Star addressed the pivotal decision ahead for him and the Timberwolves organization after being eliminated in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals.
“I haven’t even thought about it, to be honest with you. I will say that I love it here, and this is the most meaningful basketball I’ve played in my career,” Randle said in a postgame news conference. “From how the organization has made me feel — the front office, my teammates and playing with Ant as our leader — I love it. It’s a lot to be excited about. I haven’t really thought about [the player-option], but I will say having the ability to compete for a championship is everything I can ask for in my career. We’ll see.”
Given the league’s rules around veteran extensions, it’s in Randle’s best interest to opt out and enter extension talks with the Timberwolves, force a sign and trade or explore free agency. No matter the option, he will likely get paid more.
However, his words indicate that pursuing a championship may be more important than seeking a top-of-the-market extension.
But whether Randle fits into the Wolves’ window for contention is up for debate.
His decision-making and poor dribbling resulted in several mindless turnovers against a young, rabid Thunder team that will stay together for the foreseeable future.
If Edwards and the Wolves are going to make their first NBA Finals appearance, Oklahoma City is going to be in the way — begging the question of whether Randle is a fit for the Timberwolves.
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